‘Trump's brain': the architect behind America's migration crackdown
For Stephen Miller, the architect of US President Donald Trump's hardline migration policy, the protests in Los Angeles were nothing less than the front line of a 'fight to save civilisation itself'.
Hyper-loyalist Miller, 39, has carved out a niche as Trump's most powerful and hawkish adviser on the Republican's signature issue of immigration.
A combative presence on the White House driveway, Miller is frequently rolled out in public to double down on the president's comments in front of the cameras and frequently spars with reporters.
But the sharp-suited adviser's comments on Los Angeles – which echo hard-right talking points about the decline of the West as it faces an 'invasion' of migrants – underscored that the topic is not just political for him, but existential.
Stephen Miller speaking with the press. Photo: AFP
His fingerprints have been all over the White House's unprecedented assertion of its right to use presidential power to pursue its agenda, often using centuries-old or rarely cited laws to deport migrants.
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